The third Saturday of April is dedicated in the Republic of Moldova to commemorating the victims of the 1946–1947 famine, during which more than 200,000 people died. On this occasion, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia said the suffering of that time can be fully understood only in the light of Christ.
He stressed that remembering the famine should not be merely an act of commemoration, but also a call to discernment.
“We must know how to distinguish truth from falsehood, good from evil, and genuine freedom from its deceptive forms. We must never allow division, indifference or lack of solidarity to lead us again into suffering.”
“Today, more than ever, we are called to unity—unity in faith, in our people, and in action. Let us support one another, be attentive to the needs of those around us, and cultivate Christian love, which is stronger than any trial,” the bishop added.
Faith remained unbroken
Bishop Veniamin noted that despite the indescribable suffering endured, faith in God remained intact.
“In the silence of empty homes and in broken hearts, prayer continued to burn like a living candle. The Church, though persecuted and restricted in its work, remained a place of hope, an unseen support for those who did not lose their faith.”
“Today, we live in a different context. We enjoy freedom—the ability to express our faith, to help our neighbour, and to build together a more just and supportive society. Yet this freedom also brings great responsibility: not to forget the past and to learn from it,” he said.
To mark the day, the Diocese joined the campaign “A light and a small loaf of bread,” during which volunteers distributed 250 small loaves of bread along with informational leaflets in the centre of Cahul.
1946–1947 famine
Historians say the famine was not caused solely by severe drought, but was also intensified and used as an instrument of political repression against the population of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
According to data from the National Archives Agency, cited by Moldpres, more than 123,000 people died of starvation in just a few months—around 5% of the population. Proportionally, Soviet Moldova was the hardest-hit region in the entire Soviet Union, with a mortality rate ten times higher than in Russia and five times higher than in Ukraine.
Throughout April, multiple events are held across the Republic of Moldova to commemorate the famine victims, including photography exhibitions, documentary screenings, workshops and educational sessions.
Photo: Moldpres
